Sunday, December 18, 2005
Pawar Politics
We are habituated with the double standards of politicians. They consider the common men as fools. Hence there is nothing surprising in new President of BCCI Mr. Sharad Pawar’s action. Examples:
He says, ‘ we want to leave the cricketing to the cricketers’. And acts, ‘appoints selectors who never played international cricket’.
He says, ‘ I am socked by the exclusion of Ganguly, he played well in the delhi test. But I cannot do anything as it is the prerogative of the selectors.’
Can anyone tell what should have been the action of a man with common sense? I will answer. As a Partner of a small firm I will definitely overturn any decision of any of my subordinates, if and when, I am convinced them to be wrong.
But how can one expect common sense from a politician?
So we are no better by getting rid of Dalmiya.
On the hindsight I believe it was even foolishness to expect any manly act from Sharad Pawar, the person who does not have any self respect. After leaving Congress on the issue of Foreign leader, he is now back to her majesty’s squad.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Rahul's silence is deafening
The more I decide not to comment on la affaire’ Ganguly, I somehow forced to enter the controversy.
In the total controversy, the matter disturbing me most is the attitude of Rahul Dravid. Everyone is blaming Greg Chappel, as the board president Sharad Pawar absolved himself of any complicity. But I am intrigued by the feelings of Rahul Dravid. What may be his feeling?
In the total controversy, the matter disturbing me most is the attitude of Rahul Dravid. Everyone is blaming Greg Chappel, as the board president Sharad Pawar absolved himself of any complicity. But I am intrigued by the feelings of Rahul Dravid. What may be his feeling?
Here, as almost everyone in cricketing fraternity are unanimous in their condemnation of sacking of Ganguly, as a cricketer, he must not have a different opinion. After Kotla showing, the parameter for dropping Ganguly cannot be that of performance, it must have been pr-determined. Certainly he also feels that this Indian team does not have any place for Ganguly. At least I would like to think so, because otherwise we are in a situation where the captain does not have any voice or does not dare to open his voice, which is not a good compliment for Team India captain.
Again, here is the case of injustice (?) meted out to a fellow cricketer with whom he had played closely for almost a decade, definitely some relationship has built up between the two as the longest captain- vice captain duo. What one would expect from a long standing associate? I don’t know about Rahul, but if any time I personally put into such a situation, I would definitely give some consideration for the friendship, talk to the person personally and explain the position. We, always, are not master of the situation, and tend to accept inevitable situations, but there are something called courtesy and sympathy for a friend (?) or a person with whom he is closely associated for such a long time. Is it asking for too much?
Friday, December 16, 2005
Some more musings
I have some free time till 3 p.m. (IST) and the best way to wasting (?) time is to write something.
I don’t know what happened to me. Whenever I want to write something, the first thing comes to my mind is that the life has become very busy. I am getting sick of my mental condition. I think I have become paranoid by the work schedule. But why is this happening? Most of the work, I am presently in, is of my own choice. And while at work I am doing them cheerfully, never feeling the burden. But whenever I want to write, i.e. my mind is free to do something on its own, the first thing it thinks is of this busy life. Is my subconscious mind is longing for rest?
Well let’s see my schedule.
I am reaching Hyderbad tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I have to give3-4 hours for Nandu anna, who is coming from Nagpur, to help him in finalizing the function hall for his niece’s marriage. Then I have to spend at least 2 hours for my son to accompany him for his test. He wants me to be with him to be dropped on his way to test. Till date I never failed him, wherever I may be, but I make it a point to be at Hyderabad on those days. I have to attend the Region Meet of Lion Pandurangam, which should take at least 4 hours. Then I have to release the update of All India Lions Meet 3rd edition; there goes another 3 hours. By evening 8 p.m. I should be free for dinner at Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton where the Chettinad Food festival is going on. (my wife’s order).So I think my mind is right to be aggrieved
I don’t know what happened to me. Whenever I want to write something, the first thing comes to my mind is that the life has become very busy. I am getting sick of my mental condition. I think I have become paranoid by the work schedule. But why is this happening? Most of the work, I am presently in, is of my own choice. And while at work I am doing them cheerfully, never feeling the burden. But whenever I want to write, i.e. my mind is free to do something on its own, the first thing it thinks is of this busy life. Is my subconscious mind is longing for rest?
Well let’s see my schedule.
I am reaching Hyderbad tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I have to give3-4 hours for Nandu anna, who is coming from Nagpur, to help him in finalizing the function hall for his niece’s marriage. Then I have to spend at least 2 hours for my son to accompany him for his test. He wants me to be with him to be dropped on his way to test. Till date I never failed him, wherever I may be, but I make it a point to be at Hyderabad on those days. I have to attend the Region Meet of Lion Pandurangam, which should take at least 4 hours. Then I have to release the update of All India Lions Meet 3rd edition; there goes another 3 hours. By evening 8 p.m. I should be free for dinner at Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton where the Chettinad Food festival is going on. (my wife’s order).So I think my mind is right to be aggrieved
A pilgrimage to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala
Well looks like it is a long time I am writing again. Right now I am at Tirupati, the temple town, abode of Lord Venkateswara or Lord Balaji. No it’s not a pilgrimage trip for me. It’s a business trip. But, as usual, whenever I am in Tirupati, I do go to Tirumala to have a darshan of Lord Balaji, provided time permits, which happens most of the time except some extra rush period, when one has to wait for 2/3 days for darshan.
Yesterday morning I arrived here and in spite of busy schedule, decided to have darshan yesterday itself. Now-a-days darshan at Tirupati has become techno savvy. For special darshan one has to buy ticket @Rs.50/-. At the time of ticket purchasing they take your fingerprint and photograph and computer generates an automated likely time for reporting at the Main temple. I got the timing of 9-30 p.m. So happily I attended my daylong works and started for Tirumala by around 7-30 p.m.. For the uninformed, the Lord Venkateswara temple is situated on hilltop at Tirumala, some 14 Kms from Tirupati.
Yesterday was Thursday, my weekly fasting day. Normally every Thursday, by evening my body becomes so weak that I hardly manage to do any work after 7 p.m. But yesterday I decided to take food only after darshan. Not surprisingly, but somehow I managed. As, once inside the temple, nobody is sure about the time the darshan will be complete, I decided to hire taxi for one-way trip only. I have a simple believe that once you are in a temple, simply surrender to the God. Second simple belief: once you find something inevitable, try to enjoy it. My realistic mind was asking me to enquire about the possibilities of getting conveyance for return journey, but I resisted on the premise that it will only cause more anxiety.
Anyway by the time I got the darshan and came out of the temple it was past 12 O’clock. Then I came to know that the road from Tirumala to Tirupati is closed from 12 to 3 a.m. so no conveyance is available till 3 a.m.
At Tirumala only accommodation available is at TTD choultries. They don’t give room for single person. The winter night at hilltop was really chill. I did not have any warm cloth with me as at Tirupati, where I was supposed to spend the night (in a cozy hotel room) the night temperature hardly falls below 15-17 degree Celsius. So I thought the wish of GOD is to spend the night on pavement under the open sky. Once decided, I surrendered to my fate and started walking on the road to find a place to spend the next 2 hours (by the time it was 1 a.m.).
The walk on a lonely road under a moonlight sky was not that bad. Once I started, I found the surroundings quite fascinating. It gives you a special feeling; surrounded by the vastness of forest, only the moonlight and the shadows created by it to give you the company. It makes you feel so small and helpless! I was so engrossed in enjoying the precarious situation I am in, that I failed to notice the approach of a person. It seemed suddenly from nowhere he is in front of me. I became apprehensive. But the person whose face could not be seen in the darkness informed me that there is a jeep somewhere down the road, I can hire him if I want.
Well it is not the first time that I have done this, and every time I was cautioned by my wife. (actually I am putting it mildly, she normally uses explicit languages on my foolhardiness). But I went with him and boarded the jeep. If the readers are eagerly waiting breathlessly for some sensational news, I am afraid, I am going to disappoint them, as nothing did happen except the poor fellow dropped me to my hotel door faithfully, pocketing the money and thanking me also.
Well that was another night I am going to remember for a long time. May be someday I will tell the story to my grandchildren.
Yesterday morning I arrived here and in spite of busy schedule, decided to have darshan yesterday itself. Now-a-days darshan at Tirupati has become techno savvy. For special darshan one has to buy ticket @Rs.50/-. At the time of ticket purchasing they take your fingerprint and photograph and computer generates an automated likely time for reporting at the Main temple. I got the timing of 9-30 p.m. So happily I attended my daylong works and started for Tirumala by around 7-30 p.m.. For the uninformed, the Lord Venkateswara temple is situated on hilltop at Tirumala, some 14 Kms from Tirupati.
Yesterday was Thursday, my weekly fasting day. Normally every Thursday, by evening my body becomes so weak that I hardly manage to do any work after 7 p.m. But yesterday I decided to take food only after darshan. Not surprisingly, but somehow I managed. As, once inside the temple, nobody is sure about the time the darshan will be complete, I decided to hire taxi for one-way trip only. I have a simple believe that once you are in a temple, simply surrender to the God. Second simple belief: once you find something inevitable, try to enjoy it. My realistic mind was asking me to enquire about the possibilities of getting conveyance for return journey, but I resisted on the premise that it will only cause more anxiety.
Anyway by the time I got the darshan and came out of the temple it was past 12 O’clock. Then I came to know that the road from Tirumala to Tirupati is closed from 12 to 3 a.m. so no conveyance is available till 3 a.m.
At Tirumala only accommodation available is at TTD choultries. They don’t give room for single person. The winter night at hilltop was really chill. I did not have any warm cloth with me as at Tirupati, where I was supposed to spend the night (in a cozy hotel room) the night temperature hardly falls below 15-17 degree Celsius. So I thought the wish of GOD is to spend the night on pavement under the open sky. Once decided, I surrendered to my fate and started walking on the road to find a place to spend the next 2 hours (by the time it was 1 a.m.).
The walk on a lonely road under a moonlight sky was not that bad. Once I started, I found the surroundings quite fascinating. It gives you a special feeling; surrounded by the vastness of forest, only the moonlight and the shadows created by it to give you the company. It makes you feel so small and helpless! I was so engrossed in enjoying the precarious situation I am in, that I failed to notice the approach of a person. It seemed suddenly from nowhere he is in front of me. I became apprehensive. But the person whose face could not be seen in the darkness informed me that there is a jeep somewhere down the road, I can hire him if I want.
Well it is not the first time that I have done this, and every time I was cautioned by my wife. (actually I am putting it mildly, she normally uses explicit languages on my foolhardiness). But I went with him and boarded the jeep. If the readers are eagerly waiting breathlessly for some sensational news, I am afraid, I am going to disappoint them, as nothing did happen except the poor fellow dropped me to my hotel door faithfully, pocketing the money and thanking me also.
Well that was another night I am going to remember for a long time. May be someday I will tell the story to my grandchildren.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
This is what I like doing most
Today was the official visit of Lions Club of Secunderabad Snehapuri. It was a very hectic day, but was a satisfying one. The highlight of the day was a visit to the old age home run by MIMS. It was touching to see the pathetic situation of the inmates. It is a small house but consists of various blocks. All the inmates are old ladies. They had various stories to tell. The most common stories were about the cruelty of their own relatives. Most of them were deserted by their children. They have special sections for mentally unbalanced ladies, where the inmates lost their mental balance due to the cruelty of life. They need some special care. Then there was section for ladies with HIV positive. An hour visit to this old age home opened new eyes for me. I am really awestruck. So much one can do to help fellow human beings. The total experience made me sad but also gave me satisfaction for the kind help extended by the members of this club for this noble cause.
I just came back attending the charter night celebration of the same club. Charter night of any club is celebrated as the birthday of the club. The main purpose of the celebration is to honor the charter members of the club for their contribution. It was a well-attended function. They also highlight the kind of service activities rendered by the club. Last year this club has provided a telephone booth to a 24-year-old handicapped boy (physically only 2 feet length). The narration of the boy was really heart rendering. The telephone booth not only provided livelihood to the boy but also made him help in marrying off his sister. I really appreciate the effort of the members of the club. They have made a person self sufficient, to stand on his own, instead of making him a beggar. Hats off to the members.
I just came back attending the charter night celebration of the same club. Charter night of any club is celebrated as the birthday of the club. The main purpose of the celebration is to honor the charter members of the club for their contribution. It was a well-attended function. They also highlight the kind of service activities rendered by the club. Last year this club has provided a telephone booth to a 24-year-old handicapped boy (physically only 2 feet length). The narration of the boy was really heart rendering. The telephone booth not only provided livelihood to the boy but also made him help in marrying off his sister. I really appreciate the effort of the members of the club. They have made a person self sufficient, to stand on his own, instead of making him a beggar. Hats off to the members.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
‘United States, without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless’
I was fascinated by the acceptance speech of Harold Pinter, the recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in literature. Here are some excerpts:
‘United States, without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless’ – How true!
‘The truth is something different. The truth is to do with how the United states understands its role in the world and how it chooses to embody it.’- which can be termed sheer arrogance.
‘United States foreign policy since the end of the Second World War. Direct invasion of a sovereign state has never in fact been America’s favored method. In the main, it has preferred what it describes as ‘low intensity conflict’. Low intensity conflict means thousands of people die but slower than if you dropped a bomb on them in one fell swoop.’ – It must be a matter of concern to actually how much US has lost in Vietnam and in all other third world countries. History must have been a mute spectator of a generation of youth of US being destroyed in these low intensity wars fought in the jungles of Vietnam, Korea, Combodia and other parts of the world. Did anyone do any survey?
‘US no longer bothers about low intensity conflict. It no longer sees any point in being reticent, even devious. It puts its cards on the table without fear or favour. It quite simply does not give a damn about UN, international law or critical dissent, which it regards as impotent and irrelevant.’ – The fall of soviet block has created a vacuum in the power balance. But if we listen to history; that is the first step of fall of any great nation.
‘The invasion of Iraq was a bandit act, an act of blatant of state terrorism, demonstrating absolute contempt for the concept of international law.’
‘The invasion was......an act of intended to consolidate American military and economic control of the Middle East masquerading’
‘Therefore it is just that Bush and Blair be arraigned before international criminal court of Justice.’
‘United States, without doubt the greatest show on the road. Brutal, indifferent, scornful and ruthless’ – How true!
‘The truth is something different. The truth is to do with how the United states understands its role in the world and how it chooses to embody it.’- which can be termed sheer arrogance.
‘United States foreign policy since the end of the Second World War. Direct invasion of a sovereign state has never in fact been America’s favored method. In the main, it has preferred what it describes as ‘low intensity conflict’. Low intensity conflict means thousands of people die but slower than if you dropped a bomb on them in one fell swoop.’ – It must be a matter of concern to actually how much US has lost in Vietnam and in all other third world countries. History must have been a mute spectator of a generation of youth of US being destroyed in these low intensity wars fought in the jungles of Vietnam, Korea, Combodia and other parts of the world. Did anyone do any survey?
‘US no longer bothers about low intensity conflict. It no longer sees any point in being reticent, even devious. It puts its cards on the table without fear or favour. It quite simply does not give a damn about UN, international law or critical dissent, which it regards as impotent and irrelevant.’ – The fall of soviet block has created a vacuum in the power balance. But if we listen to history; that is the first step of fall of any great nation.
‘The invasion of Iraq was a bandit act, an act of blatant of state terrorism, demonstrating absolute contempt for the concept of international law.’
‘The invasion was......an act of intended to consolidate American military and economic control of the Middle East masquerading’
‘Therefore it is just that Bush and Blair be arraigned before international criminal court of Justice.’
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Art in different form
Yesterday I was at Nagpur. I met Mrs. Gokhale. She showed me some samples of her artwork. She makes artistic design with the help of dried flower petals and leaves. I found them fascinating. I brought a few and plan to use them for fund raising activities as new year compliments.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Does technology makes moron
Technology has made our life easier. But it has made us handicapped in our mental faculty. I was just thinking, how lazy have we become today to use our mental faculty? The advent of calculator made us forget the basic mathematics. The cell phone has robbed us of our memory power. Today I feel hopeless without the cell phone as my capability of remembering telephone nos. has simply vanished. The word processor has robbed my faculty of remembering spelling. I am so much habituated to the word processor spelling correction button that now-a-days I get confused about spelling of simple words.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Addiction to Blogging
Last 48 hours was very hectic for me. I had to travel some 900 odd kms and back on road. I visited a few tribal hamlets near Visakhapatnam. But today I am not going to talk about my activities during the last 48 hours. I am going to talk about my addiction.
Till date I used to take pride of not being addicted to anything. But not anymore. Now I understand I am addicted to Internet and especially to blogging. As I was on move all the time, I did not have access to Internet. This made me so uncomfortable I have never experienced whole of my life. I believe this is called addiction.
Initially I started blogging just to give words to my thoughts, and to renew my flirtation with my old love – literature.
It looks like ages that I have written anything substantial except some speeches for some meetings or some articles to be published in some magazines or souvenirs. I even forgot when I wrote only for myself.
So I took blogging as a kind of to give vent to my feelings. But today it became a habit. To write something, to read others, to give comments, to listen to some bantering – all these has become an addiction. And most surprising is, as I could not find time in my daily busy schedule, I started to blog at night.
So what else can I call it except addiction.
Till date I used to take pride of not being addicted to anything. But not anymore. Now I understand I am addicted to Internet and especially to blogging. As I was on move all the time, I did not have access to Internet. This made me so uncomfortable I have never experienced whole of my life. I believe this is called addiction.
Initially I started blogging just to give words to my thoughts, and to renew my flirtation with my old love – literature.
It looks like ages that I have written anything substantial except some speeches for some meetings or some articles to be published in some magazines or souvenirs. I even forgot when I wrote only for myself.
So I took blogging as a kind of to give vent to my feelings. But today it became a habit. To write something, to read others, to give comments, to listen to some bantering – all these has become an addiction. And most surprising is, as I could not find time in my daily busy schedule, I started to blog at night.
So what else can I call it except addiction.
Heores India should not forget
Today in a Lions club meeting I had the privilege of meeting Lt. Gen (Retd.) M. A. Zaki. (PVSM, AVSM, VC). His is a very regular face in TV in any panel discussion on Jammu & Kashmir and insurgency. But I did not know his full credentials.
He was born in Hyderabad. In 1965 Indo-Pak war he commandeered his platoon in Lahore sector. He was seriously wounded in the war. He was awarded Veer Chakra for his bravery. Due to his bravery in combating insurgency in Manipur he was awarded Ati Visisth Seva Medal (AVSM). Subsequently he received Param Visisth Seva medal (PVSM) for his bravery in combating insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir. He was also awarded Padmshree award (civilian award). He has worked as security advisor toGovt.of Jammu & Kashmir. In the army tradition his son also is an army officer today.
I was charmed by the simplicity and humility of his personality.
I would like to request all my Hindu nationalistic friends to remember the sacrifices, bravery and valor of persons like Lt. Genl. (Retd.) Zaki when they throw the tag of non-patriotism on Muslims in general.
He was born in Hyderabad. In 1965 Indo-Pak war he commandeered his platoon in Lahore sector. He was seriously wounded in the war. He was awarded Veer Chakra for his bravery. Due to his bravery in combating insurgency in Manipur he was awarded Ati Visisth Seva Medal (AVSM). Subsequently he received Param Visisth Seva medal (PVSM) for his bravery in combating insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir. He was also awarded Padmshree award (civilian award). He has worked as security advisor toGovt.of Jammu & Kashmir. In the army tradition his son also is an army officer today.
I was charmed by the simplicity and humility of his personality.
I would like to request all my Hindu nationalistic friends to remember the sacrifices, bravery and valor of persons like Lt. Genl. (Retd.) Zaki when they throw the tag of non-patriotism on Muslims in general.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
It was heartening to see people who can pronounce ‘V’ not ‘B’ fight for Ganguly
Today I was watching ‘Big Fight’ show on NDTV. The panel of experts consisted of Raj Singh Dungarpur, Kapil Dev, Kishore Bhimani and Ayaz Menon. Everybody knows the first two panelists, for others, Kishore Bhimani is cricket commentator and Ayaz Menon is cricket editor.
The discussion was on the changes is BCCI leadership and the treatment meted out to Sourav Ganguly.
On Dalmiya’s contribution to Indian cricket:
Both Kishore Bhimani and Ayaz Menon, who does not have any personal axe to grind, were over whelmingly admiring Dalmiya for his contribution to BCCI, his fight with ICC for Indian cricket, for his role in making BCCI the richest sports association in the world.
As expected Dungarpur couldn’t agree with anything good in Dalmiya.
Kapil Dev did agree to the contribution of Dalmiya, but he complained that the same money was not used for development of cricket. Both the commentators did not agree with him. They pointed out that today we find cricketers coming from small towns that is because money has been pumped in development of cricket in ranji trpohy competition level etc. However they agreed that there is scope for further improvement.
On exclusion of Ganguly, except Dungarpur everybody agreed that he is getting raw deal. Some of the notable excerpts:
Kishore Bhimani, ‘ till date he has been the best captain India has produced. He has scored runs on all pitches all over the world; hence the contention that he cannot play on green pitch is absolutely wrong. He He is a victim of Board politics. People targeting him to take potshot on his guru Jagmohan Dalmiya.’
Kapil Dev, ‘He has scored more than 10,000 runs in ODI and 5,000 runs in test cricket, there cannot be any doubt about his cricketing qualities. After Sachin Tendulkar resigned, he took the challenge of leadership against all odds and it is he who has built the team India. He should be given a proper and decent farewell as and when he retires’.
Audience 1, ‘Greg Chappel is doing what Britishers did in India – divide and rule’.
Audience 2, ‘People like Dungarpur, who never played cricket questioning about Ganguly’s capabilities, who has scored centuries in Australia, England etc.’
It was heartening to see that the audience, definitely from New Delhi, was overwhelmingly supporting Ganguly. It only shows, you need not be a Bangalee to support Ganguly and feel sorry for the injustice meted out to him.
The discussion was on the changes is BCCI leadership and the treatment meted out to Sourav Ganguly.
On Dalmiya’s contribution to Indian cricket:
Both Kishore Bhimani and Ayaz Menon, who does not have any personal axe to grind, were over whelmingly admiring Dalmiya for his contribution to BCCI, his fight with ICC for Indian cricket, for his role in making BCCI the richest sports association in the world.
As expected Dungarpur couldn’t agree with anything good in Dalmiya.
Kapil Dev did agree to the contribution of Dalmiya, but he complained that the same money was not used for development of cricket. Both the commentators did not agree with him. They pointed out that today we find cricketers coming from small towns that is because money has been pumped in development of cricket in ranji trpohy competition level etc. However they agreed that there is scope for further improvement.
On exclusion of Ganguly, except Dungarpur everybody agreed that he is getting raw deal. Some of the notable excerpts:
Kishore Bhimani, ‘ till date he has been the best captain India has produced. He has scored runs on all pitches all over the world; hence the contention that he cannot play on green pitch is absolutely wrong. He He is a victim of Board politics. People targeting him to take potshot on his guru Jagmohan Dalmiya.’
Kapil Dev, ‘He has scored more than 10,000 runs in ODI and 5,000 runs in test cricket, there cannot be any doubt about his cricketing qualities. After Sachin Tendulkar resigned, he took the challenge of leadership against all odds and it is he who has built the team India. He should be given a proper and decent farewell as and when he retires’.
Audience 1, ‘Greg Chappel is doing what Britishers did in India – divide and rule’.
Audience 2, ‘People like Dungarpur, who never played cricket questioning about Ganguly’s capabilities, who has scored centuries in Australia, England etc.’
It was heartening to see that the audience, definitely from New Delhi, was overwhelmingly supporting Ganguly. It only shows, you need not be a Bangalee to support Ganguly and feel sorry for the injustice meted out to him.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Truth is beautiful or ugly?
Yesterday I was a bit sentimental, may be the after-effect of ‘wine and dine’ I had. But is Truth really beautiful?
Here is more on reality:
Today let me narrate the state of affairs in Govt. Schools in Hyderabad. I have a doubt that most of the readers may not believe, as this is about the period of Chandrababu Naidu regime, when Hyderabad was the talk for everyone. The whole country was ga ga about the development Naidu was ushering on the people of Hyderabad.
That was 2002. We, Lions clubs, in association with Vision 2020 and Lead India did a program of conducting essay-writing competition for students of 8th to 10th standard. The topic was, ‘What is your vision of India in the year 2020 and how are you going to contribute for the same?’
We decided to conduct the program in Govt. Schools in and around Hyderabad as the students of these schools are mainly from the poorest of the citizens.
Till that time I did not have any direct experience of any Govt. School, rather I never thought about them. We conducted the program in ten Govt. Schools.
During that time I was shocked by the reality of the situation of the schools.
- Most of the schools are housed in Govt. buildings constructed during Nizam’s period and are in most dilapidated condition. At least in two schools, the roofs were leaking and there were fear that any moment the roof may cave in.
- In two Girls high schools, there were no toilets. Can anyone imagine? It is not a story of any village. In proper Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh!
- In most of the schools; students have to sit on floor, as there were no furniture’s.
- Most of the classrooms did not have any black board, part of the wall was painted black to use as black board.
- The teachers, definitely well paid on Govt pay scale, were least interested in teaching, except in four schools.
- Forget about any library, laboratory or any other teaching appliances.
Now can anybody tell me, what to expect from these students? Are they part of Indian Future. What Vision 2020 mean to these students? In my opinion these are the breeding grounds of future antisocial elements.
This is one side of Reality.
- Most of the schools are housed in Govt. buildings constructed during Nizam’s period and are in most dilapidated condition. At least in two schools, the roofs were leaking and there were fear that any moment the roof may cave in.
- In two Girls high schools, there were no toilets. Can anyone imagine? It is not a story of any village. In proper Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh!
- In most of the schools; students have to sit on floor, as there were no furniture’s.
- Most of the classrooms did not have any black board, part of the wall was painted black to use as black board.
- The teachers, definitely well paid on Govt pay scale, were least interested in teaching, except in four schools.
- Forget about any library, laboratory or any other teaching appliances.
Now can anybody tell me, what to expect from these students? Are they part of Indian Future. What Vision 2020 mean to these students? In my opinion these are the breeding grounds of future antisocial elements.
This is one side of Reality.
Second side of reality:
As I mentioned earlier, this was the period when Chandrababu Naidu was hailed as messiah of Development. He wanted to make Hyderabad Hitek with all kinds of development, but alas, there were no place to think about these poor kids.
Hyderabad contributes maximum to the NRI population all over the world. There is hardly any house in Hyderabad, where some one or other is not earning in dollars/ dinars/ pounds. But none of them have any concern for development of the schools.Now, Is the Truth Beautiful?
Truth is beautiful
Long time back I composed a poem titled ‘Truth is beautiful’. I remember it was also published in some magazine. I lost the manuscript, I desperately tried to remember the name of the magazine. Looks like age is catching up, my memory is failing me badly. Today I remembered about the poem. Actually the title might have been a translation of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. In this world can we claim that the truth is beautiful? Certainly not. If I remember correctly it was written after 9/11 and subsequent invasion of Afghanistan, hence there must have been human suffering in it.
But today I got a different insight of this world. Just now I was watching the film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. This might have been the 20th or 30th time I am watching this film. The main attraction of the film is its humor. I am not a film buff. I only watch comedies. But today watching it again it gave me a new insight of life. The character Siddharth, who is a young artist, falls in love with an elderly, lonely, deserted woman. Nobody understands his love. He almost looses his childhood friend over this misunderstanding, He hurts his widow mother, and he hurts his ladylove also in the process. His is a love of a silent admirer’s, no string attached with it. He was not even going to declare his love to the lady. I don’t know whether it could be called love or it can be termed as compassion for a disturbed, lonely person. But I found the beauty in his love because he loved only for himself, without expecting anything in return. He is not bothered about what the world thinks about it. His only concern is to give solace to the lady. He only wanted to see her happy. Love without any expectation. Love only to make your lover happy. How true! How Beautiful! Somehow I felt his love is the manifestation of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’
But today I got a different insight of this world. Just now I was watching the film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’. This might have been the 20th or 30th time I am watching this film. The main attraction of the film is its humor. I am not a film buff. I only watch comedies. But today watching it again it gave me a new insight of life. The character Siddharth, who is a young artist, falls in love with an elderly, lonely, deserted woman. Nobody understands his love. He almost looses his childhood friend over this misunderstanding, He hurts his widow mother, and he hurts his ladylove also in the process. His is a love of a silent admirer’s, no string attached with it. He was not even going to declare his love to the lady. I don’t know whether it could be called love or it can be termed as compassion for a disturbed, lonely person. But I found the beauty in his love because he loved only for himself, without expecting anything in return. He is not bothered about what the world thinks about it. His only concern is to give solace to the lady. He only wanted to see her happy. Love without any expectation. Love only to make your lover happy. How true! How Beautiful! Somehow I felt his love is the manifestation of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Greeting cards
Aruna came today. She is now busy in selling greeting cards. The NGO she works for broguht out some beautiful cards, creations of the students of their school. This is the season of greeting cards. I gave her some leads. I am sure she will be able to convert the leads to sell.
Realities of Life or is it cruelty?
Today one girl came to me for job. It seems, 3 years back I have conducted essay competition in her school and distributed prizes to the winners. She needed help and in desperation came to me for help.
Surprised, I recollected; under Vision 2020 and Lead India, we had conducted this competition in Govt. Schools for students from 8th to 10th standard on the occasion of Birthday of President Kalam. The topic was – ‘what is your vision of India in the year 2020 and how are you going to contribute for this vision’. I will tell about that experience in future. Today let me talk about her.
She is a Hindu girl, a skinny one, may be 16 or 17 years old. A look at her desperate eyes forced me to listen to her story. She desperately needed a job. She is the youngest of the six daughters of a person who works as a cook in some nondescript hotel. Two of her elder sisters are married. One of the married sisters came back from her in-laws place as she is suffering from kidney ailment. As they are not in a position to bear the medical cost for the treatment, she is turned away from Govt. Hospital and now at home waiting to die. Among the balance four only one could complete her SSC examination and is working in a private firm. Others could complete studies from fourth to eighth class.
I did not know what to tell her. In my organization I don’t have any job for an uneducated girl. But listening to her stories I just could not send her away. After a few calls to various people I could get some assurance from my printer, who agreed to put her as helper in his screen-printing section.
She left happily profusely thanking me, tears of happiness rolling down her eyes, but spoiling my mood in the process.
Today being World AIDS day, I had a long schedule of activities. With a heavy heart how can I continue to act as if nothing has happened? Everyone was surprised by my lack of enthusiasm.
Whole day my mind was on her plight only. And was thinking, this is the real ground reality of the situation of majority of Indians. In my mind I wanted to shoot the father for giving birth to six daughters. I am sure that he has continued to give birth to these girls in the hope of getting a son.
What is the future of these girls? May be a few of them will run away with somebody and ultimately will be sold in the bazars of Mumbai. What did we expect these girls to write on the topic ‘what is your vision of India in the year 2020 and how are you going to contribute for this vision’? Now it seems cruel, even vulgar.
Who has to take the blame? I remember the benign fatherly (?) advice of RSS chief Sudershan ‘produce as many children as you can’. To save Hinduism? Bloody Hell!!!
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]